Page 16 of The Duke’s Rejected Mate

His breath skitters across my hand as his lips skim the surprisingly delicate surface until they settle on the pulse point in my wrist. Can he feel it? Can he tell just how furiously my heart pounds?

“I’m waiting, Miss Campbell. What has you in such a scandalous position to have your fingers betwixt your thighs like some errant ladybird flitting about in the night?”

“Y- your hands,” I moan out on a soft breath. “The way they discipline me.”

He pulls away and grins at me, his lips stretching wide as if to devour me whole. “And so you decided to be naughty once more? Shall I punish you, Miss Campbell? Shall I drive this ache from you?”

My body screams at him, demanding that I say yes. But this isn’t like old times. This isn’t some near-harmless lark I’m playing with the duchesses as they fall into their husbands’ arms and expect punishment and pleasure in equal measure.

No. This is far different. I am an engaged woman. I belong to another. As much as I want to dally in this foray, as much as I want to give myself to him, to have him drape me over his lap and spank me until I can’t think or breathe, I’m not his to do so. Not anymore. Such tasks would belong to Henhaven.

Would his punishments make my soul sing? Would they make me long to disobey just to feel the heat of his gaze and ire? Though I long for that to be true, I find no evidence as yet. Norhaven has always exuded such prowess, such masculinity.

Groaning, I scrunch my eyes closed, desperate to rid myself of the image of his phallus bobbing in front of me as he demanded closeness after he stripped me of my dignity. Such madness. Such insanity that I fear I cannot tell what I should do.

“You think too much,” Norhaven murmurs as he pulls me closer. “It’s a simple question with a simple answer. Do you wish for me to punish you?”

“I am no longer your concern,” I whimper as sadness, longing, and desperation all coalesce into a ragged cry in my throat. “Those duties are no longer yours. It’s not a burden you must bear.”

“Burden,” he snorts. “You must have come away from our little sessions with the wrong impression. Never once were my actions a burden. I merely said I would take you in hand to spare your father from scandal as a means to have you to myself. Trust me, little vexation, ‘twas never a burden.”

“Then why?” I trail off, not able to put the fears and worries into words.

“It’s complicated,” he sighs. “But the why doesn’t matter now. I went straight away to your father after service. I made my overture. He refused.”

Heat flushs through my cheeks as I watch Norhaven turn to stare at the fire. He looks so tired, so defeated. But he went to Father for me. He must actually care for me at least a little.

“So there is no hope then?” I ask, my voice soft.

“There is hope,” he growls as he turns back to me. “As long as I can uncover some form of scandal, and trust me, I will, your father will have no choice but to call it off and allow me to swoop in.”

I drag my knees up to my chest and rest my head on them. “Could we not just scandalize ourselves? We would have to get married then.”

The small muscles in Norhaven’s jaw jump a bit as he clenches it tight. “I’ve thought of that. I’ve dreamt of pulling off some coup where no one could deny my claim. If I were my own man, my own agent, I would fling open the windows and have the whole of London hear just how well I can pleasure you. But I’m not. I am but part of a family.”

My heart sinks as tears burn my eyes. “The triplets,” I whisper.

“The triplets,” he agrees. “Were they already married, I wouldn’t have nearly the same burden as I do now. As it is, to attach such a scandal would taint them too. Though I am a selfish man at times, I find my duties will always include my family.”

“And honestly, I cherish you for that.”

“Right,” he agrees, his voice flat and dull. “But what good is it when we sit here, separated by an impenetrable gulf?” With a slight shifting of his body, he slides up the bed to lie next to me.

His arms are firm and warm as he pulls me into his chest. From behind, I hear and feel the strong purr emanating from him, soaking into me, making me boneless. If only it could always be like this.

“You truly think you can find a way to break this engagement?” I murmur as I snuggle into the cage of his arms.

“I might die trying, but I’ll do my damnedest.”

We lie there for what feels like an eternity. Not one word passes between us, but then, what else is there to say that hasn’t already been spoken? Pain lances my heart as I lie there, soaking in as much of Norhaven as I can. Only a handful of weeks. Not that many days for such a massive miracle.

After a little bit longer, he turns me toward him and tips my chin up so he can gaze into my eyes. Still, he doesn’t speak. All he does is lean down, brushing his lips with my own.

A kiss. A kiss from Norhaven. How long have I dreamt of this moment? My heart flutters behind the cage of bone as I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him deep in. Even if all we have are these few stolen moments, I don’t want to miss out on a single one.

His fingers move over me, sliding the sheets down in a frantic motion. Once uncovered, those large, muscular hands skim up my thighs, taking my shift with them until I’m bare to his gaze.

This is different from all the other times. Never was I fully naked to him. It was only the pertinent bits he wished to torture, either with pleasure or pain. Turning away, I break the kiss, unable to look upon him as he stares at me.